Pakistan govt moves to protect self

Jul 06, 2012 - Shafqat Ali |

Islamabad

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Over two weeks after disqualification of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani by Pakistan’s Supreme Court, the government gave its nod to the introduction of a new law that will exempt the president, prime minister, governors and chief ministers from contempt of court proceedings.

Information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said the bill is not aimed at putting any restrictions on the top court, but to give the right of appeal against a conviction.

Mr Kaira said that article 248 (1) says, “The president, governor, prime minister, federal ministers, minister of state, chief ministers and provincial ministers shall not be answerable to any court for the exercise of powers and performance of functions of their respective offices or for any act done or purported to be done in the exercise of those powers and performance of those functions”.

He said if some article of the Constitution gives some a right, nobody can withdraw it. The proposed bill only clarifies that position.

The Cabinet also approved the bill to allow dual nationals to participate in the next general elections. The main opposition PML(N) is determined to oppose this piece of legislation and without their support the ruling alliance cannot attain the magic figure of 228 (two-thirds majority in a house).

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